Statement for Triumph of the Cross Cathedral PALM SUNDAY OF OUR LORD'S PASSION March 15/16, 2008   As Holy Week begins, we are invited as the disciples were to watch and pray. How will you watch? Pray?   Gospel Reflection (Matthew 26:14—27:66 or 27:11-54): This gospel is a reading of the passion (or suffering) of Christ. On this Sunday we are reading it “according to Matthew.” We see Jesus betrayed by two of his friends, Judas and Peter, and by the crowd. We see him mocked and beaten by the soldiers who laughingly “honor” him as King of the Jews.    Wounded, crowned with thorns, and dying a little more each step of the way, Jesus carries his cross to Calvary. His suffering is so great that he wonders if even God has left him to die alone. Still Jesus willingly gives up his spirit. With the centurion we pray: “Clearly, this was the Son of God!” Discussion Points for Gospel: Jesus offered his entire life and his entire self to the Father, including his suffering and death. He did this voluntarily. Even though he was God, he chose “the lowest place” out of love. We, like Jesus, suffer because we are human. People still suffer, here in our own country and around the world. Can you name some of the ways and some of the reasons why people suffer today? What does Jesus want us to do about human suffering? (Think about the parable of the Good Samaritan.) Think of one way your and your group could help lessen human suffering in some way. Then do so, in the name of Jesus. (--Sadlier “We Believe” www.webelieve.web.com)     MASSES FOR THE WEEK SATURDAY          5:15 pm     Salvatore & Teresa Davoli - the Bray family SUNDAY               8:30 am     Anthony Poltorek - the Schreck family                             10:30 am     People of Our Parish                               3:00 pm    Communal Reconciliation Service                               6:15 pm     Joseph Abraham - the Abraham family MONDAY            12:15 pm     Tony Udvardy TUESDAY             5:15 pm      Beulah Udvardy                               7:00 pm     Chrism Mass, Marietta WEDNESDAY      12:15 pm     Frieda Shields - Karen Vedder THURSDAY          7:30 pm     Healing & Recovery of Katy Hart FRIDAY                7:30 pm     Celebration of the Lord's Passion SATURDAY          8:30 pm     Reine & Hamilton Kline - Mary Kline SUNDAY               8:30 am      Kathleen Morrow - the Essmans  Easter Sunday                 10:30 am     Alice Mulligan - Pauline Rodgers                                            6:15 pm      Joseph & Elizabeth Minnozzi - Shirley Minnozzi         PARISH CALENDAR: March 16 - 23   SUNDAY            Palm Sunday                            9:30 am     Rosary                          11:30 am     Prayers for Peace                            1:00 pm     Confirmation preparation                            3:00 pm        Lenten Reconciliation Service                            3:45 pm     Children's Choir practice                            4:30 pm     R.E. classes                                             Study Tables MONDAY                            Finals Begin -- good luck!                                             Study Tables TUESDAY                            9:45 am     Why Catholic?                            7:00 pm     Chrism Mass, Marietta                                             Study Tables WEDNESDAY                      Study Tables THURSDAY        Holy Thursday                                             office closed                            7:30 pm     Mass FRIDAY             Good Friday                                             office closed                          12:00 pm     Ecumenical Service                            7:30 pm     Celeb. of the Passion SATURDAY       Holy Saturday                            8:30 pm     Easter Vigil: Mass & reception SUNDAY            Easter Sunday                            8:30 am     Mass                          10:30 am     Mass                            6:15 pm     Mass
Sunday Scripture Readings      Reflection on the Scriptures has become more and more a part of basic Christian spirituality. At times we would like to return to the Sunday Scriptures at home, but we do not have the missalette with us. At other times we may be interested in seeing just what came before or immediately after the reading for the day to gain more insights.      To encourage this encounter with the Scriptures, we will be including in the bulletin the scripture reading references for the current Sunday and the following Sunday. In addition, in our on-line bulletin we will have the actual links to the readings.	New American Bible Palm Sunday At the Procession with Palms Matthew 21:1-11 At the Mass Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14—27:66 or 27:11-54 Easter Sunday Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Palm Sunday      Instead of admitting his failure, Judas returns to the chief priests in a futile attempt to undo his deal with them. This is a fatal mistake. Bargaining is far different from repentance. Peter understands that God’s graciousness and forgiveness are greater than his sin. Adults: How have I experienced God’s goodness in a way I did not expect or deserve? Children: How do I ask for forgiveness when I have done something wrong? HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE *Palm Sunday regular Mass schedule     Lenten Penance Service @ CTK     3:00 pm Tuesday     Chrism Mass, St. Mary’s, Marietta,                   7:00 pm *Holy Thursday                        7:30 pm Mass *Good Friday Ecumenical Service   12 noon @ First Christian                                                     Church                     7:30 pm Celeb. of the Passion   *Easter Vigil                             8:30 pm Mass                                     reception follows Mass *Easter Sunday             regular Mass schedule CHILDREN’S EASTER CHOIR    Practice is 3:45-4:25 pm on Sunday, March 16 in the PC Chapel. Any questions, contact Nancy Sand, 592-3410. EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS are due by this Monday, March 17, for inclusion in the Easter bulletin. MINISTERS, please contact Nancy Sand, 592-3410, or email her at nsand@ctkathens.org if you can help during Holy Week services. LENTEN COMMUNAL RECONCILIATION SERVICE    Today, Sunday, March 16th at 3PM we will have a reconciliation service in the CTK Church which will include reflections on the icon “Jesus Christ Holy Forgiveness,” a community “chain of forgiveness” activity, and the opportunity to experience the sacrament of reconciliation.    All community members are also invited to a Lenten Community event from 2-3 PM at the CTK parish center where we will use fire and other physical rituals to deepen our understanding of sin and mercy. ECUMENICAL GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE     Every year people throughout Athens gather to pray together on Good Friday at the Ecumenical Service. This year the service will be held at the First Christian Church on the corners of West State and North Congress streets. Please join us at this prayerful event that takes place from 12 noon to 12:45. EASTER RECEPTION -- Holy Saturday    Everyone is invited to attend this annual event that follows the Easter Vigil Mass. There will be a yummy selection of goodies to sample while we join the newly initiated members of our Church and other parishioners in celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection. ATTENTION LITURGICAL MINISTERS: Nancy is working on the Spring Quarter schedule which will be in effect March 29/30 through June 14/15. Please contact her with dates you CANNOT minister. BUS TRIP TO BRIDGEPORT & WHEELING    The St. Francis Society of Athens is sponsoring a bus trip to the Wheeling Island Casino on Friday, April 4. We will stop at St. Joseph Church in Bridgeport to have Mass and lunch with Fr. Mucha. We will then travel to the Casino for those who wish to spend a few hours there or you may continue on to Oglebay Park for the tulip festival. Cost for the bus is $30 per person. There will be additional charge for lunch. The bus leaves Christ The King Church at 8:30 AM and will return to Athens at approximately 6:00 PM. Please place your name on the sign-up sheet located on the bulletin board in the Parish Center. LITURGY BITS AND BYTES    The Offering. We used to call the part of the mass where we contributed our money the offertory of the mass. Along with that, it seems that when the presider placed the bread and wine on the altar, it was being offered. As we noted, this part of the mass has been renamed the “preparation of the altar and the gifts,” and the “presentation of the gifts.” As yet, there is nothing to offer. What we have done is to unite ourselves with the gifts that will become the perfect offering. So, NOW, after the bread and wine has become transformed into the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus, we offer this Blessed Sacrament, and with it all that we are and have, which are now made worthy through the Lord Jesus. The presider says, “ we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.” This is the true offering of the mass. Copyright © 2008 Resource Publications, San Jose, CA	Christ humbled himself becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. --Philippians 2:8 BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES March 17 - 23 Birthdays: Marie Barone, Ama Boakye-Yiadom, Bob Bray, Chris Denhart, Jason Denhart, Margaret Deppen, Jody Gannon, Chuck Hart, Bruce Hecht, Karl Kordesch, Joanne Norris, Stepehen Owens, Amanda Payne, James Petrik, Spring Richardson, Phil Shaw, Paul Spolrich, Kayte Thistlethwaite, Elizabeth Welsh, and Austin Youmans.   Students: Megan Cooney and Catherine Stine. Anniversaries: Diane & Greg Scharer (9th) and Laura & Paul Milazzo (5th). Prayers for the Sick    Let's be one in hope and prayerful presence to all on our prayer list and continue to pray for Pat Lambert, Katy Hart and Bill Rader. (Remembered in the petitions) REST IN PEACE    We offer our sympathy and prayers to the Ruman family. Former parishioner Marge Ruman died this past week. May she and all who have died, rest in the peace of our Lord. VESPERS, THE EVENING PRAYER OF THE CHURCH    We will celebrate Vespers at St. Paul’s Church on Sunday evenings at 5:00 PM beginning today (March 16). Everyone is welcome to join us. VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR NEEDED    Once a month, the Parish Community Service Committee has helped put on a community dinner for 30 to 50 people at the UCM house on College Street in Athens. A new leader is needed to be responsible for preparing a menu and recruiting about 5 parishioners to prepare and serve the food and clean up. We can bring food we prepare ourselves or use the food pantry at the UCM house.    The PCSC is starting a new schedule for these dinners, concentrating on the summer months where there is greatest need due to fewer student volunteers. The PCSC will be responsible for these dinners on the 4th Thursday of June (June 26) and the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of July and August (July 10 and 24, August 14 and 28). The event usually takes about 3 hours (arrive at 4:00 PM at the UCM house to begin food preparation; dinner served at 5:30; cleanup finished by about 7:00PM).    Please call the parish at 740 592 2711 if interested. ORDINATION NEWS    All the parishioners of Christ the King and St. Paul’s are warmly invited to the diaconate ordination of Bradley Greer, who was a seminarian here last summer. Bradley will be ordained a Deacon by Bishop R. Daniel Conlon on Saturday, March 29 at 10am at Holy Name Cathedral in Steubenville. Contact Bradley in care of Our Lady of Mercy Church, 5001 Lowell Hill Road, Lowell, OH 45744 or email him at bradleywgreer@yahoo.com SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE    Paperwork for the Bratton Scholarship and the Mussio Scholarship is available at the parish office. Please call for more details. COMMUNITY EVENTS    Vigil March 17, 11:30 am-12:30 pm Athens County Courthouse to protest Iraq War. Petitions available to sign.    The Gishes will talk about their experiences in Palestine at Christ Lutheran Church on March 18 at 7 pm.